Sewing with Friends: Alyssa's black satin and tulle party dress

2.17.2014

Hope you all are as excited as I am for another gorge dress by my friend Alyssa in my Sewing with Friends series!

This time, she's sharing a fancy black dress she wore for some of her engagement pictures, actually--black poly satin and black basic tulle, a combination of two patterns for the bodice, and a fab tulle ballet skirt.

(She's the greatest at using my hashtag, #howtowearDIY! You can join, too!)

For the base of the bodice, she used Simplicity 1876, a super essential and versatile strapless dress pattern (I use a McCall's one of basically the identical shape--princess seams--for SO many strapless dresses.) She also cut out the midriff panel from Butterick B5457 and...

I cut the front of the simplicity pattern two times. at the side I gathered the top layer to one side, and sewed it on top of the other piece.

The skirt is just the one sheer layer of black tulle over a gathered lining. I love this idea!! Fluffy and ethereal without being overwhelming to sew on. ;) (See my recent post on my tulle puffy party skirt and my wedding dress construction for my tales of sewing with bouncy, weightless tulle!)

Here's the dress!

I love the simplicity and versatility of the solid, basic color but such pretty fabric! Like, the most fun "little black dress" ever!

So grateful again for my talented and inspiring friends! Thanks, Alyssa, for sharing and getting me excited about sewing party dresses!